This reel of mixed 1940s-1960s black & white and color footage compiles various scenes of Native American life, showing mid-20th century indigeonous peoples in both casual and ceremonial dress, celebrating customs, and creating traditional handcrafted artwork (TRT 11:25). DISCLAIMER: While we have tried our best to show our sincere respect for the tribes depicted, the tribal affiliations provided below are educated estimates, and cannot be taken as definitive. We welcome and encourage corrections of the synopsis that follows: A pair of Hopi women lead a child along a path through a grassy flatland (0:08). A male/female couple drives a horse-drawn carriage down a paved road, surrounded by rocky outcroppings. The man, wearing a hat, cracks a whip and pulls the reins (0:16). In color, likely staged: A man in a red headscarf gestures to a seated man wearing a single feather. The seated man indicates a painted illustration of animal forms (0:26). A family with two children rides in a wagon (0:53). A meal, spread across a blanket, is enjoyed by a small group (1:00). A group of Navajo women wearing light face paint and a man in ceremonial dress (1:07). Elderly women with their hair covered in handkerchiefs (1:11). In color: Navajo women carrying multiple woven blankets. More women bearing trade blankets in black and white before a stop sign (1:21). Out-of-focus pedestrians (1:41). The Navajo women in ceremonial dress reappear. One holds a baby in a child carrier in closeup (1:44). An elderly woman. A young woman smiling. Women, children, and a covered wagon (1:50). A Hopi mother and child in a cradle board in portrait against a stucco wall (2:06). Wide shot of a settlement with a horse-drawn covered wagon, tents (2:11). Women on horseback and 1940s automobiles, trucks, tents in the background. Two women haul a bale of hay, three younger women follow with a bucket. People walk through a parking lot (2:20). A crawling baby cries (2:39). Men wearing hats playing cards (2:43). A portrait of men wearing “western” style shirts. A woman combs her hair in closeup. An elder with two young girls points his finger to indicate something. A Jemez Pueblo woman wraps a baby in a blanket, tying the bundle neatly with string (2:47). Two elderly men. One, with a white beard and a fringed, embroidered leather jacket, removes his hat briefly (3:44). A Native American Hoop Dance is performed by Jemez Pueblo people. Singing drummers provide a beat. Cars can be glimpsed in the background (3:55). Horses and wagons draped in blankets lead a parade of men and women on horseback at a tribal fair. Women join in dancing (4:09). The scope of the wagon procession is revealed, stretching into the distance. Men in ceremonial dress (4:46). An elder wearing a roach headdress of porcupine quills waves in closeup (5:00). Color: A brass marching band leads a parade (5:06). Hopi people marching. Hopi women of the Acoma Pueblo balance clay water jars on their heads. An audience is visible (5:19). A couple in a covered wagon. People in ceremonial dress (5:35). More color parade footage of the 1950s. Men wear bald eagle costumes. Hoop dancers wearing feathers (5:49). A group of onlookers at a street corner (6:48). A group of men in hats stand waiting around a pile of gnarled copal wood (7:14). Hopi men carve and paint Kachina dolls. A Hopi weaver at an upright loom (7:42). Color: Inside a Navajo jewelry studio. A polishing wheel and a grinding wheel (8:14). Sorting turquoise stones (8:46). Stamping silver. Making silver chains (9:07). Setting stones with a ball-peen hammer. A wider shot of the jewelers at work, soldering with blowtorches (9:38). A precious stone tumbler polishes a silver necklace. A group portrait of the jewelers and silversmiths from the studio (10:27).
